General Idea Cost TriFoam Self Serve

[cdreed06]

Does anybody have any idea a general cost for adding trifoam to 3 self serve bays? Assuming I do the installation. Anybody done this as a add-on? Thanks

 

[Buzzie8]

Try calling Blendco. I think they have a tri-foam pump system that they sell. If my memory is correct it was around $600 for the system. Of course, you will need a position on your rotary switch for it. You will also need to add a boom arm and run hoses unless you already have a foam function in place. I have a low pressure foam and it gets some use but not as much as I would like. If I were to add an additional function right now it would be an air shammee.

 

[cdreed06]

Ok thanks, and you are right about the air shammy, I do think we could benefit from one of those in the bays. Motorcyclists I think would really use that. Just trying to come up with some "new" stuff for our self serve.

 

[2Biz]

I have this one (3 bay rotary pump, $4,111.00):

http://www.dultmeier.com/products/0.48.1030/2517

Kind of pricey, but it comes with everything needed for the install. It wasn't hard at all installing. The only thing I modified was the boom mount. I ordered a double mount so the Tri faom and FB was on the same mount.

I had Tire Cleaner and Engine cleaner as positions on the rotary switch although both used the same presoak chemical. So I had to re-wire one of the functions to make it tri foam. The Tri foam was one of the first things I installed when buying the wash. So I was as green as a gourd! So I'm sure if you've had your wash for awhile, it will be a piece of cake.

It doesn't get as much use as I'd like. But people who do use it love it. I've had it installed going on 2 years and it has been trouble free.

 

[cdreed06]

Thanks, that looks like a nice system!

 

[MEP001]

I have this one (3 bay rotary pump, $4,111.00):

http://www.dultmeier.com/products/0.48.1030/2517

Kind of pricey, but it comes with everything needed for the install. It wasn't hard at all installing. The only thing I modified was the boom mount. I ordered a double mount so the Tri faom and FB was on the same mount.

That's actually a pretty good price considering it comes with the booms.

 

[bigleo48]

CCreed,

I'd do the air-shamee first...it will get more use and margins are higher. You just want to make sure the electrical service you have can handle the increased power consumption.

 

[cdreed06]

Thanks everybody. I like the idea of the air shammy too. Just now need to figure out which one would get the most use. Thanks!

 

[bigleo48]

Just now need to figure out which one would get the most use.

cdreed,

This has been discussed a fair bit in the past. From my recollection, air-shammee was used significantly more. And as I mentioned, less work and higher margins.

 

[ScottV]

I agree with the Air Shammee. I have both in my 6 SS bays. The 3X Foam option was hardly ever used, in fact after 2.5yrs we were still on the first 5 gal pails of foam! This past summer I decided to replace the foam with RainX. I have seen increased usage of the option at both wash sites, but educating the customer on it's proper use and benefits is critical.

The air shammee's get pretty good usage, mostly by motorcyle guys/gals. Dont make the mistake of putting the units in the attic if you have room in the bay. When there's a problem its much easier working on them when they are right there in the bay. Due to height restrictions at one wash site we put them in the attic and its a pain in the a*s when a motor goes or the 3-1 manifold comes undone which happens frequently with the Diskin units.

 

[2Biz]

I have tri-foam in (3) of my (4) bays. One of my bays is an outside truck bay which I chose not to install the tri-foam. It has additional features the inside three bays doesn't have...I feel its balanced....

I guess mine gets a bit more use, but not by much. I believe (3) 5 gallon buckets, (1) of each color, lasts about a year. So not expensive at all to operate. I'm sure dilution is a huge factor. The chemical that came with the system was ultra concentrated, 500 to 1. I mix 2.5 gal with 2.5 gallons of water so I can mix with a std hydrominder. Even then I should be using a 240-1 tip but I felt is was way to diluted. So I'm down to 120-1...Still only use about 15 gal total for the year. More in the winter obviuosly since I'm currently mixing methanol...

I wished it did better...I agree with the "Educating the customer" part....It is very critical and something I do every time I get a chance. I also get people that say the only reason I installed it is to keep them in the bay longer! It takes longer to spray the stuff off! Those are the one's that take me a little longer to convince otherwise!

 

[MEP001]

I see pretty significant use of the tri-foam, and I think it's mainly due to the placement of the gun. I know one local guy who put in tri-foam at a new wash he built, but he put the gun and holder at the farthest corner of the bay from the meter box. He was disappointed in the use it got. I put the holder on the wall opposite the meter box with the holder at the same end of the bay. They have to go past it to get to the foam brush. About 20% of customers use it on average/busy days (If all the bays are full the system is running half the time); for some reason 2/3rds of them will use it if it's slow.

I've considered adding an "air shamee," but I see maybe one motorcycle a month - not enough of them for it to make a big hit.